SB Nation - Kenny Irons

Bengals draft picks typically sign in the 11th hour

Kirkendall — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:30:08 -0000

In writing notes for the Inside Slant, FoxSports.com writes that "negotiations also have not started with second-round pick Rey Maualuga."

It's pretty common that draft picks tend to sign late in the offseason -- like right before training camp starts. Last year, the Bengals officially signed five draft picks on the day players reported to camp: Jerome Simpson, Pat Sims, Andre Caldwell, Anthony Collins and Corey Lynch. Most of them had agreed to deals beforehand, electing to actually sign when they arrived to Cincinnati for training camp. The Bengals signed Kenny Irons, Jeff Rowe, Matt Toeaina, Dan Santucci and Chinedum Ndukwe a day before the 2007 training camp. The Bengals reported to training camp in 2006 on July 29 and on that day (or the day before), the Bengals signed Andrew Whitworth, Domata Peko, Ryan McNeal and Ethan Kilmer. To say that the Bengals, and other teams, wait until the 11th hour with a majority of their picks, would be an understatement.

However, "team officials foresee no problems in signing their middle- to late-round picks. It's the first-round pick though that continues to be a concern as the team looks to be preparing for a long standoff with Andre Smith."

Joy.

Breaking down and ranking drafted positions in Cincinnati since 2003

Kirkendall — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:47:42 -0000

Breaking down Cincinnati's draft since 2003, I wanted to see how many players were left at each position and the strength of that position based on the foundation of the team's drafted players. There were some positions I didn't bother listing. Like quarterback, since there's no emphasis of improving the position after the team drafted Carson Palmer. I didn't list Tight Ends, because the last Tight End taken before Matt Sherry in 2008, was Matt Schobel in 2002. We're not going to grade positions based on arbitrary made-up numbers and letters; rather simply point out how many players are left, and perhaps some equation of how many are (and were) starters. I placed a strong emphasis on where the team is today based on these draft picks; not how they've performed during their Cincinnati career, other than possibly being starters. We can have that discussion if you'd like, but that's not the heart of this post.

I am, however, going to rank the positions we've drafted. This is nothing more than my opinion, and not some concocted Football Outsiders formula.

Here goes.

Dating back to 2004, the Bengals have drafted eight defensive backs -- six of whom have multiple starts, two of whom are first-round draft picks. During the 2006 and 2007 draft, Lewis drafted four guys at all four defensive back positions that started at one time in multiple games. Of the nine defensive backs since 2003, five remain, one signed a rich contract with the Vikings and another helped the Colts into the playoffs. There has been talent drafted by the Bengals at defensive back.

Defensive Backs	Year	Round
Corey Lynch	2008	6
Leon Hall	2007	1
Marvin White	2007	4
Chinedum Ndukwe	2007	7
Johnathan Joseph	2006	1
Keiwan Ratliff	2004	2
Madieu Williams	2004	2
Greg Brooks	2004	7
Dennis Weathersby	2003	4

If you look at the list of offensive linemen, there is a lot of good. Eric Steinbach wasn't just a starter -- he played tackle and center. He was signed to one of the richest contracts in NFL history as a guard. Andrew Whitworth took over Steinbach's departed role as the team's starting guard, that can play tackle at a moment's notice. Anthony Collins was perhaps the biggest surprise when he was asked to block some of the league's best pass rushers at the tail-end of 2008. Stacy Andrews started several games, and left for more money in Philadelphia. While we're generally not happy about the way Ghiaciuc's career panned out, he has been the team's starting center since 2006 -- perhaps that's just lack of options? Of eight drafted offensive linemen, four remain and only one has significant starting experience -- however, Collins is on pace to be the team's starting tackle for this season and beyond.

The problem with the offensive line is the lack of players drafted that are starting today. Levi Jones was a 2002 draft pick and has possibly already played his final game in a Bengals uniform. Bobbie Williams was a free agent and Ghiaciuc and Andrews are likely gone. Heading into this season and next, the Bengals are lacking a core of drafted players because most of them have already left Cincinnati, or are, at best, backup talent.

Offensive Linemen	Year	Round
Anthony Collins	2008	4
Dan Santucci	2007	7
Andrew Whitworth	2006	2
Eric Ghiaciuc	2005	4
Adam Kieft	2005	5
Stacy Andrews	2004	4
Eric Steinbach	2003	2
Scott Kooistra	2003	7

I was conflicted with our defensive line. Since 2003, we've drafted ten defensive linemen -- six of whom remain with the team. Both of our projected starting defensive tackles are our draft picks, and the team's best pass rusher, Robert Geathers, was drafted in 2004. Toeaina was favored with some -- but having placed him on the practice squad for a significant period of time in 2007 opened the door for the Chicago Bears to sign him away. Pat Sims has a high ceiling and could be the team's starting defensive tackle for some time, while guys like Frostee Rucker, Jonathan Fanene and Jason Shirley remain fixed as backups. I don't believe we've drafted great with defensive linemen, but there we have picked up a few pieces that figure into the team's long-term vision.

Defensive Line	Year	Round
Pat Sims	2008	3
Jason Shirley	2008	5
Matt Toeaina	2007	6
Frostee Rucker	2006	3
Domata Peko	2006	4
Jonathan Fanene	2005	7
Matthias Askew	2004	4
Robert Geathers	2004	4
Langston Moore	2003	6
Elton Patterson	2003	7

I realize that ranking wide receivers could be the most premature of all positions. First of all, there was little reason to draft the best wide recever in any draft because the team had already invested in Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh -- even Peter Warrick was figuring into the team's long-term vision until a degrading knee condition suffered in 2003 ended his NFL career. Between 2003-2007, the teams drafted six wide receivers, primarily looking for depth and that viable #3 receiver. Even though he's embarrassed the team, and stunted his own growth, Chris Henry had both the talent and size to be the league's best #3 receiver. He's still with the team and reportedly working hard to have his talent and potential realized. During the last off-season (between 2007-2008), Chad Johnson cried and negotiations for T.J. Houshmandzadeh weren't going well. So the Bengals drafted three wide receivers, two of whom were thought to be replacements for both 30-plus year-old receivers. The 2008 draft was definitely considered a rebuilding draft for wideouts, therefore it's hard to really grade this. You can't based their projected careers on their rookie season's because of the talent that they had to leap-frog to get there. This season and next will be critical for them.

Wide Receivers	Year	Round
Jerome Simpson	2008	2
Andre Caldwell	2008	3
Mario Urrutia	2008	7
Ethan Kilmer	2006	7
Bennie Brazell	2006	7
Chris Henry	2005	3
Tab Perry	2005	6
Maurice Mann	2004	5
Kelly Washington	2003	3

Linebackers have always been cursed during the Marvin Lewis era. David Pollack, Odell Thurman, Ahmad Brooks and A.J. Nicholson never really had their careers realized for one reason or another -- ranging from injury, off-the-field issues to simply not being good enough. Landon Johnson started many games, led the team in tackles then left. Of the nine linebackers drafted since 2003, six have started. What makes linebackers ugly, is that only drafted linebacker remains on the team today.

Linebackers	Year	Round
Keith Rivers	2008	1
Angelo Craig	2008	7
Ahmad Brooks	2006s	3
A.J. Nicholson	2006	5
David Pollack	2005	1
Odell Thurman	2005	2
Caleb Miller	2004	3
Landon Johnson	2004	3
Khalid Abdullah	2003	5

Drafting running backs has been terrible for this team. If you exclude Jeremi Johnson, the Bengals have drafted Kenny Irons and Chris Perry since 2003. That's it. Irons' NFL career is likely over and Chris Perry has suffered through several season-long injuries that's hampered his production and development. Our ranking of running backs is mostly degraded based on the fact that we've picked up so few, and of those we did pick up, have been disappointing at best. Perry's 2005 season was cause for hope that he'd become the team's "two" or a one-two punch with Rudi Johnson -- or another powerback. That vision never fulfilled itself and if Perry isn't cut by the regular season, he's likely playing his final season in a Bengals uniform.

Running Backs	Year	Round
Kenny Irons	2007	2
Chris Perry	2004	1
Jeremi Johnson	2003	4

That's my opinion guys, what's yours?

Monday afternoon links and notes -- moral victory, blah, blah

Kirkendall — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 19:58:31 -0000

Curnutte is flying the banner of moral victory. In truth, I have no problem with that. I've always been a champion of allowing one to have their own opinion -- no matter what others think of it. Unless it's really, really stupid.

Keith Rivers had two assisted tackles against the Giants. On the other hand, Dhani Jones had 12 tackles, David Jones had nine and our young safeties combined for 13 (Ndukwe with seven, Marvin White with six).

"Is close good enough"? No. It's not. But it sets the table for the next game.

Feel bad because the Bengals lost. Feel good because the Bengals are a better team than we've given them credit for.

Walker threw a Cincinnati Bengals player into his "Who's Hot" list.

Don Banks: "Ever since that Week 17 moral victory against undefeated New England last December, No. 10 refuses to let the Giants lose." There it is again. Moral Victory. It won't be long before that term becomes illegal at Cincy Jungle -- a first.

A Kenny Irons update. "No surprise he was in Auburn, as I assume he’s got plenty of time on his hands now. I only got to talk to him briefly because he was too busy buying drinks for white girls at the bar."

The Giants are soft?

Bengals starting MLB Dhani Jones, a Giant from 2000 to '03, was calling his former team "soft" on the field Sunday, according to one of the Giants who asked for anonymity because the on-field chatter is often considered to be between players only. The player said a few Giants were celebrating in Jones' direction after WR Amani Toomer's catch that set up Carney's game-winner.

Jones? A talker? I don't believe it. Somehow I feel that Joey Porter is somehow involved.

Sunday Afternoon Links and Notes

Kirkendall — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 18:39:26 -0000

Bering Sea Bengal's assessment is that releasing Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson was for health reasons. Marvin Lewis said as much. I disagree with this, which C Trent points out saying "Anderson practiced more this preseason than he has in the past."

The team needed reasons to cut both players that helped them save money under the cap, as well as a few millions in the pocket; since neither were projected starters, the Bengals didn't want to pay them as much. In truth, it's a reasonable business decision; but so is putting together a successful product with parts that help you to those ends.

However, it's difficult to find anyone write that the Bengals are a better team after Anderson's release; though mostly everyone does a good job pointing out that he's not young, has suffered injuries in recent seasons, and is a bit costly. Of which, two out of three actually apply to this season.

In the case of our running backs, releasing Rudi Johnson doesn't hurt the team with Chris Perry coming on and Kenny Watson proving his worth last season. On the other hand, I don't see releasing Anderson, promoting Scott Kooistra and Todd Collins as the team's primary backup tackles, as something that makes the team better. I see it as hurting the team's depth. However, Kyle Cook got a roster spot, so maybe I don't know what I'm talking about.

Paul Daugherty is arguing the business side of things, saying that "when your time is up, you better be moving toward the door, so you don't get shoved that way."

Fans react.

Scott Priestile concludes the same way most others are after cutting Anderson, Rudi Johnson and veteran Deltha O'Neal, "While Lewis's logic is questionable, the team's direction is indisputable. The Bengals are younger, cheaper and healthier today than they were last week."

But are they better? Nearly everything I've read consciously avoids answering that question using the same talking points that Priestile has. The Bengals are younger. So what? Some of the league's best players are "older". They're definitely cheaper, but aren't magically healthier this season. Just look at our wide receivers and safeties. Are they "healthy"?

Chick Ludwig wasn't impressed with Lewis during the press conference that announced the cuts. "Some coaches would’ve began their news conferences with filibusters full of praise in tribute to their fallen warriors. Not Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. I had to “pry” some praise for Willie Anderson out of him. Is Marvin callous or compassionate? Judge for yourself."

Anyway, enough about all that.

A player the Bengals deemed a project, with tons of potential ruined by injuries, was Eric Henderson. Going from defensive end to linebacker, to hybrid pass rushing DE/LB, seemed like a hell of a proposition. While with Georgia Tech, Henderson recorded 25 career sacks, and 59.5 tackles for loss. A three-time all-ACC player, Henderson finished his college career with 176 tackles, seven forced fumbles and eight pass breakups. Against Auburn in 2003, Henderson recorded three sacks and four tackles for losses.

Unlike Anderson's history of healthy problems, Henderson has struggled to even make the field. Releasing him doesn't hurt the team's depth (the difference in argument between Henderson and Anderson).

Releasing Ahmad Brooks, to me, isn't that big of a deal -- in terms of the team's production this season. Let's be honest with Brooks; he was all potential with beastly physical attributes. Instead, his release is the team's most recent draft pick failure; used as a third-round pick in the 2007 NFL draft (he was a 2006 supplemental draft pick). After suffering an injury early in 2007, Brooks' impression with the team and coaching staff dimmed, especially from this offseason through training camp. It would have been neat to see his potential fulfilled, but that's not the case. Instead his potential will likely attach to another team.

A funny musing. In the past week, Chad Johnson became Chad Ocho Cinco. Rudi Johnson was released and James Johnson was waived. That leaves Brandon Johnson and Jeremi Johnson as the remaining Johnsons on this team.

By now, you're made the connection. Two Auburn players were released Saturday. In truth, that makes three after the Bengals let Kenny Irons go. Pat Sims is the last Auburn player on the team, and Lewis says of Sims: "Pat’s not been able to work. We’re probably still a couple weeks away from seeing him, and making a determination on him."

Matt Bowen discusses the cover 4 scheme.

Andrew Brandt talks about one of the toughest days of the year for coaches, and players hoping to catch on with a team.

Bleacher Report says the Bengals are in an absolute mess (now that we dumped Anderson, we should be better now).

The Los Angeles Times predicts the Bengals will finish third in the AFC North -- not that we care what the LA Times predicts.

In Cincinnati, Marvin Lewis is on his third defensive coordinator. Can Mike Zimmer draw up the right schemes to start putting heat on opposing quarterbacks, who were sacked a league-low 22 times last season? A lot of that depends on the reliability of cornerbacks Johnathan Joseph and Leon Hall. The Bengals expect a lot from the two first-round picks.

Pro Trade argues that no NFL team will claim Rudi Johnson. I seriously doubt that. Some teams are liberal enough to give a player a look, no matter how degraded they appear to be.

Maurice Purify is not a free agent, as this article presents. By rule, a player with less than four accrued seasons is put on the waiver -- more than that, they are simply released making them an unrestricted free agent. Purify was waived, allowing 31 other teams to claim him, and sign him to their club. If he's not claimed, then the Bengals can (and likely will), sign the former Nebraska receiver to the practice squad.